Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Takes Accountability For Failed Boxout Against 76ers
After a heart-wrenching finish that saw the Boston Celtics fall 102-100 to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night, All-Star wing Jaylen Brown owned up to a critical lapse in effort that proved costly. With the game tied at 100 late following JB going 1-for-2 at the line, 76ers wing Kelly Oubre Jr. capitalized on a momentary lapse from Brown to secure a game-winning offensive rebound and tip-in.
The 76ers, buoyed by a strong performance out of nowhere from Justin Edwards, who poured in a team-high 22 points including clutch threes down the stretch, mounted a furious comeback from an eight-point deficit late in the game, and it was Oubre’s putback with 8.7 seconds left that sealed the Sixers’ victory and left the Celtics lamenting what could have been.
At the center of the postgame scrutiny was Brown, who delivered a solid stat line of 24 points on 8-of-18 shooting, including 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, to go with six rebounds and five assists in 35 minutes of action. Yet, it was his admission of fault on the decisive possession that resonated most.
Speaking to The Athletic‘s Jay King after the game, Brown didn’t mince words about his role in the offensive board that swung the outcome. “(Kelly) Oubre … just slipped behind me for an easy offensive rebound … you know, I got caught ball watching,” Brown said, per CLNS Media. “Just (gotta) get in there and get in the fight.”
Tuesday’s loss dropped the Celtics to 5-7 on the young 2025-26 campaign. For Brown, this moment of accountability isn’t new—it’s part of his evolution into a vocal leader, and you love to see him facing his error head on.
Looking ahead, Brown and Boston have little time to dwell. The Celtics host the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night at TD Garden in a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.
A quick turnaround like this could be just the tonic, allowing the Celtics to channel their frustration into a statement win on home floor.
In the end, Brown’s raw honesty postgame shows a mindset that’s propelled Boston to titles before. By owning the miscue publicly, Brown set the tone for redemption, which could arrive as early as Wednesday evening.